Elastic-fluid turbine.



F. HODGKINSON.

ELASTI FLUID TUBBNE.

Y APPLIOATION FILED JUNI: 1s, 190e.

Patented Jan.4, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. HODGKINSON.

ELASTIC FLUID TUBBINB.

APPLIoATIN FILED JUNE 16, 1906.

Patented .13114, 1910.

4 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

Patented J an. 4, 191i).

I'. HODGKINSON.

ELASTIG FLUID TURBINB.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1e, 190e.

a .m @TMW M i@ iw@ u 0,/ t C m m m WN L 1. u@ MM 4 w 9 g F. HODGKINSON.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 16, 1906.

945,391, Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: `INVENTOR @aww/U y l BY\ S 'ATTORNEY UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE FRANCIS HODGKINSON, 0F EDGEIVOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTINGHOUSE MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELASTIC-FLUID TURBINE.

To all 'whom it may concem.

Be .it known that I, FRANCIS HoDGKINsoN, a subJect of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Edgewood Park,y

lular type, considerable distortion of the casing is encountered, due to inherent casting strains and also to an unequal expansion of the casing throughoutits length, which is caused by variations in the temperature of the motive Huid.

An object of this invention is the production of a stator element for elastic fluid tur-l bines which shall be strong and rigid and'in which effective means are utilized-for permitting free expansion and contraction. rIhis and other objects I attain in a turbine embodying' the features herein described and illustrated.

In the drawings accompanyingthis application and forming a part thereof, F igurevl is a longitudinal sectional 'elevation of a turbine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a .partial perspective View of the turbine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial sectional elevation of the turbine shown in Fig. l; Fig. el is an end elevation of a turbine embodying a modification of my inventlon; Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation'of the turbine illustrated in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a partial sectional elevation of the turbine illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 7 is an end view, shown partially in section, of a detail of my invention.

The turbine illustrated in the drawings and described throughout this specification as embodying my invention is an axial flow turbine of the multi-cellular type, but I desire it to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to axial flow, or even multicellular" turbines, as it will be apparent that my invention is readily applicable to various types of turbines and may be utilized in connection with any turbine provided with a stationary casing.

The turbine illustrated in Fig. 1 is adapted to vexpand the motive fluid and extract Specification of Letters Patent.

Application tiled June 16, 1906. Serial No. 322,027.

Patented J al1. 4., 1910.

the available energy therefrom in a high, intermediate and low-pressure stage. 'l'he motive fluid is admitted to the high pressure stage and ait'ter passing therethrough, is discharged yinto the intermediate stage, which is or greater diameter. The iuid discharged from the intermediate stage enters the lowpressure stage, uhich is ot' greater diameter than the intermediate stage, and from which the fluid is discharged into the exhaust passages of the turbine. Intermediate and lowpressure balancing pistons are located adjacent to the high-pressure stage and are respectively inclosed within intermediate and low-pressure balancing chambers which communicate with the intermediate and lowpressure working passages of the turbine.

The high intermediate and low-pressure stages are inclosed within cylindrical shells 5, t5 and 7 respectively, which are formed in separate halves and are provided with suitable flanges for connecting them together'. The exhaust passage, which comniunicates with the low-pressure stage, is

inclosed within a shell which comprises the separate portions 8 and 9. The intermediate and low-pressure balancing chambers, which surround the balancing pistons, are inclosed within cylindrical shells 11 and 12 which, like the shells 5, 6 and 7, are formed in halves. The separate portions are provided with connectin flanges13 and 14 (as shown in Fig. 3) and are adapted to be securely connected together to form the exterior' casing of the rotor element of the turbine. The assembled or organized casing is divided along a horizontal plane which passes through the axis of the rotor element.

Referring to Figs. 1, :2 and 8: the rotor element is provided with a suitable shaft which is journaled in bearings l5 and 16 at either end of the casing. The lower portion of the housing of the bearing 15 is formed integrally with a pedestal 17 which is supported by and suitably secured to the foundation or bed-plate of the turbine. The ortion 9 of the turbine casing` is providedp with integrally-formcd brackets 19 which are located at either side of the bearing l5 and which are supported by suitable pads 'or supporting faces 20, formed on the pedestal 17. The lower portion of the housing of the bearing' I5 vis provided with an integrally-formed lug between which 55 'vention is shown 1n which the bearing housand a lug 25 on the portion 9 of the casing a longitudinally-extending key 26 .is located. The key 26 is arranged to hold the casing in such position that its axis coincidesvwith the axis of the bearing housing and is so located that it will in no way hamper the lateral expansion or contraction of the casing. Laterally-extending keys 22 are provided between the pedestalr 1T and the brackets 19 and aie adapted to prevent longitudinal motion of the casing and at the same time permit of sufficient lateral play to accommodate the lateral expansion of the casing on either side of the key 26.

The .casing is lield in place on the pedestal by suitable bolts 23 which are secured to the pedestals and which extend through laterally-extending slotted holes in the brackets. The lower portion of the housing of the bearing 16 is formed integrally with a pedestal 18, which is supported by the bedplate or foundation of the turbine. The lower portion of the cylindrical shell 12 is provided with integrally-formed brackets 21 which are located at either side of the bearing 16 and which are supported by pads or supporting surfaces 27 formed on the pedestal 18. The lower portion of the bearing housing is provided with an integrally-formed lug (not shown) correspond@ ing to the lug 24, betweenY which and a lug on the shell portion l2 corresponding to 25 on the portion 9, a longitudinally-extending key, corresponding to 26, is located. The key is arranged to hold the casing in line with the bearing housing and is so located that it will in no way hamper the lateral expansion or contraction of tlie shell portion 12. Laterally-extending keys 22 are provided between the pedestal 18 and the brackets 21 and are adapted to prevent relative longitudinal motion between the brackets and the pedestal 18 and at the Sametime permit of suilicient Alateral play to accommodate the lateral expansion of the casing. The brackets 21, like the brackets 19, are securedin place on the pedestal by suitable bolts 23. The pedestal 18, while supported by lthe foundation or bed-platey of the turbine, isnon rigidly7 connected thereto, but is capable of longitudinal motion along a longitudinally-extending way 36 to accommodate the longitudinal expansion of the entire turbine casing.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 a modication of my ining is formed integrally with the casing. The pedestal 17, at the exhaust end of the turbine, as in Fig. 1, is arranged to support the brackets 19, which are formed integrally with the portion 9 of the casing. The keys 22 are located between the casing brackets and the pedestal and hold the casing rigidly against longitudinal motion but permit of lateral motion to accommodate the lateral expansion and contraction of the casing. key 31, located between 'an extending lug 32 of the casing and the pedestal, corresponds Ato the key 26 in Fig. 3 and is arranged to resist lateral motion and hold the casing in position on the pedestal. The arrangement of the keys 22 and 31 is such that the lateral expansion of the casing will be unhampered. The bolts 23, which extend through suitablyslotted holes in the brackets 19, are arranged to hold the casing down. A similar construction may be utilized in connection with the balance piston end 'of the turbine, thev longitudinal expansion of the casing being accommodated by the expansion joint between the pedestal 18 and the foundation.

lVith such an arrangement the casing can expand longitudinally as well as radially and the tendency to Warp or distort is overcome. By dividing the casing into separate portions 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12, which are again divided along the horizontal plane passing through the axis of the turbine, the inherent casting strains vare reduced to a minimum, as the casing is composed oi a number of small castings and, therefore, homogeneous metal throughout the casing may be obtained. The connecting flanges 13 and 14, with which the separate flanges are provided, are of such sizel as to add to the rigidity of the casing and to permit of an adequate number of connecting bolts.

Various modifications and constructions may be made and still fall within the spirit and scope of this invention, and

That I claim is:

1. In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a stationary casing, a support for said casing, a laterally-extending key and a longitudinally-extending key between said support and said casing.

2. In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a casing, a support for said casing, means between said casing and said support arranged 'to resist lateral motion of said casing, and means arranged to resist longitudinal motion of said casing relative to said support.

3. In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a casing, a support for said'casing,

means between said casing and said support for resisting lateralmotion, and means at either side thereof for resisting longitudinal motion relative to said support.

4. In combination With an elastic Huid turbine, a casing, a support for said casing, means between said casing and said support for resistinglateral motion, and independent loo ' lateral motion, andadditional means between said support and said casing' which turbine, a casing, a support for said casing,- ,55 Y

. said casing and said supports which resists 945 sei t3. In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a casin a longitudinally movable support for sai casing, a laterally-extending featherway connection between said casing and said, support.

In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a casing, a .longitudinally movable support for said casing, a .longitudinally-extending featherway connection, and a laterally-extending featherway connection between said casing and said support.

8. In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a rotor, a stationary casing, a shaft carrying said rotor and extending through said casing, a bearing for said shaft, a housing for said shaft bearing formed integrally with said casing-lugs on said casing on either side of said bearing housing, a londitudinally movable supporting standard i'Por said lugs, laterally extending waysbetween said lu s and said standards, and a longitudinal y-extending way between said bearing housing and said standard.

9. In combination with an elastic Huid turbine, 'a stationary casing, a support for said casing, locking means between said casing -and said 'support which resists relative resists longitudinal and permits relative lateral motion.

10. In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a stationary casing, a su port for said casing, movable longitudinaliJ means' between said casing and said support which resists relative lateral motion and additional means between said casing and said su port which resists longitudinal motion an permits of relative lateral motion.

11. In combination with the casin of an elastic fluid turbine, supports, one o which .is longitudinally movable, means between 'relative'lateral motion and additional means which permits of relative lateral motion. p.

12. In an elastic fluid turbine, one of the casing pedestals of which is stationary while the other is free to move with relation to the turbine bed, means supporting the opposite ends of the casing on the pedestal in such a directions, it is fixed to the pedestals.

13. In combination with an elastic iiuid means between said casing and said support for resisting lateral motion of said casmg, and independent means between said casing and said support for resisting longitudinal motion of said casing. p

14. 'In combination in an elastic iuidtur-l bine, a stationary casing for the turbine, a supporting pedestal for said casing, means between said pedestal and said casing for preventing lateral motion of the'casing relative to the pedestal, .and independent l.

means for preventing relative longitudinal motion between said pedestal and said cas-- ing and for accommodating the lateral expansion of the. casing.

15. In combination in an elastic Huid turbine, a stationary casing, supporting pedestals therefor, means between each pedestal and said casing for preventing longitudinal motion of the casing relative to the pedestals, and means for permitting unrestricted longitudinal expansion of the casing.

16; In combination with a stationary casing and the rotor element of a turbine, bearings for the rotor element, a supporting pedestal for each bearing, and means between said casing and said pedestal for preventing relative longitudinal motion of the casing and for permitting unrestricted lateral expansion of the casing.

17. In combination with a stationary casing and the rotor element of a turbine, a bearing for said rotor element, a supporting pedestal for said bearing, means between said pedestal' and said casing for preventing relative lateral motion of said casing, and independent means between said pedestal and said casing for preventing relative longitudinal motion of said casing and for permitting unrestricted lateral expansion of the casing.

18. In combination with a stationary casing and the rotor element of a turblne, a bearing for the rotor element, a pedestal supporting said bearing, means between said pedestal and said casing for supportin said casin and preventing relative latera motion etween said caslng and said pedestal, and means located on each side ofthe axis of said element and between said casin and said pedestal for preventing relative ongitudinal motion and accommodating the lateral ex ansion of the casing.-

19. n combination with a stationary casing and the rotor element of a "turbine, bearings for said element located at each end of sald casing, a pedestal su porting each bearing and each end of sai casing, means between one 'pedestal and saidcasing for pre1 venting relative longitudinal lateral motion of the casing and for accommodating the lateral expansion of the casing, means located between the other pedestal and said casing for preventing relative longitudinal motion and accommodatin the lateral expansion of the casing, an means whereb said casing is permitted to expand longitudinally. 1

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sgbscribed my name this 14th day of June, 1 06.

FRANCIS HODGKINSON.'

Witnesses:

CHARLES W. MCGHEE, E. W. MCCALLISTER. 

